Lowcountry Cuisine Fall/Winter 2017-18

www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com | www.MountPleasantRestaurant.com | www.CharlestonRecipes.com lowcountry cuisine LC captivated us for the next hour with local stories from the past, her mouthwatering recipes and smooth jazz tunes – not to mention a delicious secret shot. You can likely catch me tearing up the dance floor and bringing down the house at Six Mile Tavern soon because Donna Kay and company has what it takes to keep the party going. AC’s Bar and Grill 467 King St. Charleston Dive bar factor: Good and grungy Denise: I can’t remember the first time I went to AC’s – that’s how much of an institution the place is for someone who has lived in the Lowcountry any length of time. Surprisingly, it was one of the only dive-ier places on our list that boasted early daylight hours; we headed there around lunchtime and were judged naught for ordering bourbon and ginger before 1 p.m. Still, their slogan is “up all night,” so don’t feel like you have to day-drink. Just know that you can. Krysta: With my only other experience at AC’s being 1 a.m. and surrounded by college kids, I’ll admit I was apprehensive about stopping there again. To my delight, noon looks a lot different than the rush they were expecting to come later, and I actually didn’t mind the pub setup. Pool tables, bar food and a delicious go-to shot called The Jamaican 10 Speed are enough to make me reconsider giving this downtown staple a second shot – though I’ll stick to exiting the dark bar into the bright day if it’s all the same to you. Salty Mike’s Deck Bar 17 Lockwood Drive Charleston Dive bar factor: Newbies welcome Denise: When I moved to Charleston years ago at the tender age of 24, Salty Mike’s was one of my favorite places to go. It’s a no-frills establishment right by the city marina, with breathtaking views of the harbor. Krysta and I grabbed a table outside with our beers – my best friend Alice calls this area “the back porch of Charleston” – and took in the sights, which, that day, included one of the Lowcountry’s best celebrities, Danny McBride. He was a totally cool guy; we even got a selfie with him. So yeah, I still like the place all these years later, and you will, too. Krysta: Easily one of the best spots for a sunset happy hour on the water, you wouldn’t think Salty Mike’s comes off as a place that would bring in the crowds – but you’d be wrong. From the outside, the building looks like a large boat shed, yet Salty Mike’s, located right below the hidden gem of a restaurant, Marina Variety Store (seriously, check out their brunch), is the perfect place to grab a cold beer or $5 Tito’s. Upper Deck Tavern 353 King St. Charleston Dive bar factor: Filthy and fabulous Denise: Dive bars all have their distinctive perks. For some, it’s great bar food. For others, it’s the scenery. But for Upper Deck Tavern, at least the day Krysta and I made the trek down the alley and climbed the stairs to this ultimate Charleston dive, it’s the bartenders who make you feel right at home. That said, we were regaled by stories of horror and humor by our new friend Tom Taylor, who joked that the dark alley leading to the Upper Deck’s door “separates the men from the boys.” Known for karaoke on the weekends, a killer happy hour, the opportunity to bring your own food (or order yummy pizza from Gilroy’s downstairs) and sip the iconic “PBR can and shot of whiskey for $5 special,” this is one dive you won’t want to miss. Krysta: Despite looking like a typical tourist on King Street while initially trying to find The Upper Deck (yes, I’m one of the few that had never been), I eventually found my way through the dark alley to the stairs that led up to the second floor bar. I was immediately smitten with the artsy feel, complete with napkin illustrations lining the ceiling and incredible, black-and-white paintings along the walls by Denton Burrows of New York City, who won the design contest for PBR cans in 2016. Tom Taylor, our hilariously sociable bartender, kept us going with cheap vodka and classic bar tales of the good, the bad and the ugly variety.